Hubby went to meet up with one of his friends last night for a Bible study and I stayed home. Didn't go to crochet with the daughter, allowing her time with her son and doing things at her home. I had a quiet evening, sorta. I took Sheeba to the front courtyard where she can roam freely and I called my little sister and we reviewed the lesson from Elijah that we are going through together. I get more out of it when we can share what our thoughts are - sometimes they are really quite different. After talking with my sister, I returned a call to my sister-in-law, who had called during my sister conversation.
I really haven't talked much to this sister-in-law for years (hubby's brother's wife). I mean, if we happen to call we may talk for a few minutes, but we - even after 39 years - do not know each other that well. We decided about a month ago, during one of our rare conversations, that we need to touch base every couple of weeks. That one or the other should initiate the call. It sometimes is awkward because we haven't talked - really talked - in years. 2013 was when we last saw each other. I returned the call and we talked for about 45 minutes and hung up with the words 'don't forget our agreement to call every few weeks' falling on my ears. It's not that I mind the call, I just always feel I have nothing to say of any value.
Does that happen to you? Unless you have a close relationship with someone, isn't it hard to come up with conversation with which they can relate? Because some family members keep others at arms length, I still find it difficult to come up with conversation at times, let alone people I don't know that well. Then there are those who everyone is a close friend. I'm not one of those, I'm afraid. I tend to search my mind to find a common ground on a subject to discuss.
Get me talking about God, or my relationship with Him - sure, I can do that. Allow me to talk about my grandchildren and I'm all over it. But I haven't done a lot of things some people have done, I'm not a successful business person, I'm not an athlete, I'm not a scholar... I'm just a mom whose kids are raised, who adores her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) and one who is in desperate need of my Savior. Like many of those are. But many are unwilling to discuss, let alone listen, to how good God is, how faithful He is.
Why is that? Is it that they feel guilty because they know they should love God above all else? The idols of this world have taken over the minds of people and when they 'choose whom they will serve' it is usually something they enjoy for that moment, and not long-lasting joy in the Lord. But we are called to choose. We choose every day.
We choose when we will get up out of bed. We choose what to eat throughout the day. We choose what to drink. We choose what to read. We choose to spend money. Or we choose NOT to get out of bed. We choose to eat healthy or poorly. We choose to drink water or whatever. We choose to overshop for things we don't even need, and so many other things we CHOOSE whether to do or not.
But the greatest choice that we can make is to serve the Lord. No, I'm not preaching at you. I'm just thinking about Joshua when he said "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Or Elijah when he called all the Israelites, the prophets of Baal and Asherah to the top of Mount Carmel, and he said:
I Kings 18:21 (NLT) "Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If theLord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" But the people were completely silent."
How long will we choose the ways of the world versus the ways of God? How long will we willingly make the wrong choices when we allow our emotions to get caught up in our 'rights'? How long will we.... choose what we want, what we feel, rather than choosing to serve the Lord?
My prayer is that you, and even I, will seek to choose God first over the things of this world. Some are easy choices - don't lie; don't steal; don't cheat on your spouse... some things are easy to 'don't do'. But are you following the Lord in the other areas of your life?
Take an evaluation. Where are you at in your walk with God? You probably haven't prayed in years. Why not start right now? All you have to do is tell God that you are sorry you haven't prayed for awhile, and you want to begin to build that relationship with Him. Begin to tell him what's going on with you and your family. Ask for His intervention in your life. Give God permission to interfere with your life. And wait to see what He will do. It may not be to your liking. It may hurt. But if God is in it, your life will be better when you get through it. After all, God will not take you to the fire without taking you through it. Trust Him.
Food for thought today. Who do you choose to follow? The idols of this world, or Jesus?
Blessings!
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